Device for tightening the weft and for sorting out the warp threads in circular weaving looms



H. PELCE Oct. 31, 1950 2,528,172 NG THE WEFT AND FOR SORTING ou THE WARP THREADS IN CIRCULAR WEAVING LOOMS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 DEVICE FOR TIGHTENI Filed NOV. 15, 1945 Oct. 31, 1950 PELCE 2,528,172

DEVICE FOR TIGHTENING THE WEFT AND FOR SORTING OUT THE WARP THREADS IN CIRCULAR WEAVING LOOMS, Filed Nov. 15, 1945 3 Sheets$heet 2 ffem' z' Pelee Oct. 31, 1950 cE 2,528,172

DEVICE FOR TIGHTENING THE WEFT AND FOR SORTING OUT THE WARP THREADS IN CIRCULAR WEAVING LOOMS Filed Nov. 15, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 LNVENTOR MW ATTY Patented Oct. 31, 1950 UNITED STA'i' ATENT OFFICE Hem-i Pelc, Flixecourt, France, assignor to Saint Frercs, Paris, France, a French body corporate Application November 15, 1945, Serial No. 628,829 In France December 16, 1944 lii Claims. 1

Various devices have already been proposed for tightening the weft threads and for combing the warp threads of a circular loom; thus, for example, the French body corporate: Saint Freres, has described in U. S. Patent No. 2,398,956 of February 14, 1945, entitled: Device for combing the warp threads and for tightening the weft threads in circular looms, a device according to which each shuttle is followed by a row of spiked wheels at right angle to the mean surface of the shed, rolling on the sheets formed by the warp threads, the sheds being closed. This device has given excellent results for combing and sorting out the warps, it also ensures satisfactory tightening of the weft in the bottom of the shed, if relatively coarse threads are under consideration, but quite insufiicient if relatively fine threads are contemplated.

The object of the present invention is to provide improvements in devices of this type, which are characterised in particular in that the spiked wheel which tightens the weft has its mean plane inclined at about 45 to that of the shed and its spikes are likewise inclined at an angle of about 45 with respect to the mean plane of the Wheel; moreover, the extension of the axis of rotation of the wheel preferably passes at a certain distance from the axis of the loom on the side towards which the wheel advances.

According to another very important feature of the invention, this ombing and tightening device by means of a spiked wheel is combined with a plurality of flexible scraper devices, moving transversely to the warps and scraping them with their points in order to make them vibrate, mounted on an annular wheel rotating concentrically to the axis of the loom and in the opposite direction to that of the shuttle; by means of this combination, with mechanical devices which do not present any complication, the same result is obtained, in a very simple manner, as by the use of the reed and slay in rectilinear weaving looms.

The accompanying drawing shows diagrammatically, by way of example, a form of embodiment of the present invention:

Figs. 1 and 2 are vertical sections through the loom axis.

Figs. 3 and 4 are plans viewed from above.

Fig. in. is a fragmentary perspective View showing, in particular, the supporting means for the spiked wheel and scrapers.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing diagrammatically a ring shaped system of scrapers arranged round the central shaft B of the loom together with a spiked belt, a shuttle and a few threads.

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatical plan view of a strip V provided with spikes and wound over the pulleys S.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 4a., the weft tightening member essentially consists of a wheel R provided with spikes or sharp points 7) similar, for example, to the needles of large carding devices, said spikes being implanted into the rim of the wheel at a certain angle, the most favourable angle being 45 relatively to the mean plane of the wheel (see Fig. 1). As shown in Fig.

the axle of the wheel R is suported by a memoer m secured to a ring 1' having rotary motion in the direction of the arrow F while the scrapers g are supported by a ring r having rotary motion in the direction of the arrow f This member rolls in contact with the warp sheets 11, n forming a shed, either above or below, in accordance with the side that has been chosen for the mechanical driving means. In any case, th y are situated in a region very close to the angle where the circular fabric is finally formed, and its relative movement with respect to the shed is in the same direction as that of the shuttles one of which is shown and designated at N in Fig. 4a.

In contact with the shed (Fig. 2), the wheel therefore meshes. sov to speak, with the threads in a manner that will be hereinafter explained more in detail, and, as the spikes substantially project out or" the rim, they pass through the shed and appear on the opposite side to that where the axis of rotation of the wheel is situated.

Moreover, the spikes are not situatedin planes containing the axis of the wheel; they are inclined rearward, or, in other words, they are directed away from the direction of planetary rotation f, and this inclination, which forms at least an angle o of 15 to 20 enables the spikes, which successively engage the sheds, to penetrate at a (Fig. 4) and to leave the latter at 12 without being caught in the warps.

In relation to the mean surface H of the shed, the mean plane of this wheel is inclined at an angle a which also approximates 45 (Fig. 1). Other positions are obviously possible, but this position is the most favourable.

Moreover, when considering the loom viewed in plan (Fig. 3) it is seen that the horizontal diam eter h of the wheel is not perpendicular tothe vertical plane or passing through its centre and through the axis of the loom as, in order to properly pick up the weft and push it toward the bottom of the shed under the best conditions, it is necessary that the extension P of the wheel axis passes at a certain distance from the loom axis, on the side toward which. the wheel moves (arrow F).

If, in a circular loom, one or several wheels arranged in the manner just explained, following each shuttle N, are mounted on thering 1' rotating in the same direction and at the same speed as the shuttles, it will be understood that the Weft thread it laid by each shuttle N in the neighbourhood of the bottom of the shed can no longer come out of the vertical triangle 0, d, c (Fig. 2) formed by the odd and even warp threads 11. and n on the one side and by the wheel spikes p on the other side. wheel forms with the circumference where the fabric is formed, an open angle in the forward direction, each of the spikes p enters the lower warp sheet at a certain distance from the bottom of the shed, whilst it is withdrawn therefrom very near the zone where the already formed fabric is situated. Under these conditions, it is s obvious that the weft thread which the spike meets obliquely is gradually pushed towards the fabric and is practically rolled into the bottom of the shed as the wheel advances. Thus, the movement of the wheel (if all the conditions of position and of angle are well observed) produces the same result as the rectilinear beating up motion effected by the usual slay in rectilinear looms.

However, at the same time as it tightens the weft, the rotation of the wheel tends to produce a tangential drive of the warp threads in the direction of the transfer motion.

To compensate for this tangential drive, it is possible either:

(a) To impart to the wheel, about its centre, a positive retrograde movement which makes up for the descending motion of the warp threads, or

(b) To utilise "a plurality of flexible scrapers sliding under the cloth in the reverse direction to that of circulation of the shuttles, in order to raise again these downwardly drawn threads. Such means has been described in the U. S. Patent No. 2,252,470 of June 20, 1940. I have shown in Fig. 5 such an arrangement including the ring shaped member 1' provided with the scrapers g, the shuttle N and the threads 12.

The positive drive of the spiked wheel is efiected by mechanical parts which are easily conceived and which will therefore not be described nor shown.

However, the combined action of the tightening wheels R and of the scrapers g, acting simultaneously and in opposite directions, has a remarkable and immediate eifect on the regularity of the fabric, so that one of the essential features of the invention must be considered as residing in the combination of these difierent parts, in their indicated direction of rotation, together with the means used for ensuring their simultaneous action although they both work in the same zone and they circulate in reverse directions.

In order to obtain this result, the rim of the wheel carrying the tightening spikes p is provided with teeth (Fig. 3) in such a manner that each tooth receives at the periphery a spike ppreferably inclined at in relation to the mean plane of the wheels, and forms a side recess Z corresponding to the inclination and the size of the ascending scrapers g which scrapers these wheels continuously engage during their circulation under the sheds.

These special arrangements enable the various parts in question:

Moreover, as the mean plane of the 1. To pick up and tighten the weft at the bottom of the shed.

2. To shuffle the warp threads and raise them continuously into their places.

3. To act simultaneously and to advance in opposite directions in the zone where the fabric is formed.

The resilient rubbing action of the scrapers on the teeth I furthermore forces the wheels to rotate about their centre 0, this being the equivalent of providing for their rotation at the required speed without their being positively driven.

A modification of the invention illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 consists in enlarging the zone ac where the weft is picked up by replacing the roller by a spiked belt V, that is, by a sort of flexible and thin belt provided with spikes on its outer portion, that is, on the portion opposite that which comes into contact with pulley wheels S. One of these two wheels, the rear wheel is disposed in the weaving zone substantially as has just been described in connection with the spike wheels; the other puiley is arranged in alignment with the first, either at the same level or at a lower level. The zone of operation of scrapers g on the ring 1' can thus be substantially increased, whereby not only the weft, but also the faults, lumps, broken threads or the like, situated fairly far in the sheds, can be tightened at the bottom of the shed. In all cases, the row of spikes p is subjected to a continuous transferring motion along a closed path, either circular or not, one part of which enters one of the warp sheets and in the mean surface of the shed, at a certain distance from the edge of the woven zone, and leaves said shed very near this edge; moreover the spikes are so arranged that when they pass into the warp sheet, they are directed along a surface approximately at right angles to the mean plane of the shed, their point being situated rearwardly of their base in relation to the direction of their motion along the said closed path.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a circular shuttle operated weaving loom, the provision of an arrangement for tightening the weft threads including to the rear of the loom shuttle a movable member and spikes carried thereby for engaging the warp threads and tightening the fabric, said movable member being mounted in a manner such that the path followed by the spikes may be oblique with reference to the axis of the loom while the spikes are arranged obliquely with reference to said path.

2. An arrangement for tightening the weft threads of a circular weaving loom operating with a shuttle, including a wheel cooperating with the shuttle, spikes on said wheel at an angle of substantially 45 with the axis of the wheel and means for constraining the wheel to roll in contact with the sheet formed by the warp threads in the vicinity of the point of introduction of the weft thread, the axis of the wheel forming an angle of substantially 45 with the axis of the loom.

3. An arrangement for tightening the weft threads of a circular weaving loom operating with a shuttle, including a wheel cooperating with the shuttle, spikes on said wheel at an angle of substantially 45 with the axis of the wheel and means for constraining the wheel to roll in contact with the sheet formed by the warp threads in the vicinity of the point of introduction of the weft thread, the axis of the wheel,

forming an angle of substantially 45 with the axis of the loom and passing geometrically at a distance from the axis of the loom towards which the wheel advances.

4. An arrangement for tightening the weft threads of a circular weaving loom operating with a shuttle, including a wheel cooperating with the shuttle, spikes on said wheel at an angle of substantially 45 with the axis of the wheel and means for constraining the wheel to roll in contact with the sheet formed by the warp threads in the vicinity of the point of introduction of the weft thread, the axis of the wheel forming an angle of substantially 45 with the axis of the loom and passing geometrically at a distance from the axis of the loom towards which the wheel advances and means for constraining the wheel to rotate.

5. An arrangement for tightening the weft threads of a circular weaving loom operating with a shuttle, including a wheel cooperating with the shuttle, spikes on said wheel at an angle of substantially 45 with the axis of the wheel and means for constraining the wheel to roll in contact with the sheet formed by the warp threads in the vicinity of the point of introduction of the Weft thread, the axis of the wheel forming an angle of substantially 45 with the axis of the loom, a ring shaped member adapted to rotate coaxially round the axis of the shaft and in a direction opposed to the progress of the shuttle and plurality of yielding scrapers carried by said ring shaped member and adapted to scrape the tips of the warp threads and a toothed rim rigid with the wheel adapted to engage the yielding scrapers.

6. An arrangement for tightening the weft threads of a, circular weaving loom operating with a shuttle, including a wheel cooperating with the shuttle, spikes on said wheel at an angle of substantially 45 with the'axis of the wheel, means for constraining the wheel to roll in contact with the sheet formed by the warp threads in the vicinity of the point of introduction of the weft thread, the axis of the wheel forming an angle of substantially 45 with the axis of the loom and passing geometrically at a distance from the axis of the loom towards which the wheel advances .and means for constraining the wheel to rotate and including a ring shaped member adapted to rotate coaxially round the axis of the shaft and in a direction opposed to the progress of the shuttle, a plurality of yielding scrapers carried by said ring shaped member and adapted to scrapethe tips of the warp threads and a toothed rim rigid with the wheel adapted to engage the yielding scrapers.

7. In a circular shuttle operated weaving loom, the provision of an arrangement for tightening the weft threads including to the rear of the shuttle an endless strip, pulleys controlling the movement of said strip and spikes carried thereby for engaging the warp threads and tightening the fabric, said strip being mounted in a manner such that the path followed by the spikes may be oblique with reference to the axis of the loom while the spikes are arranged obliquely with reference to said path.

8. In a circular shuttle operated weaving loom, the provision of an arrangement for tightening the weft threads including to the rear of the shuttle an endless strip, pulleys controlling the movement of said strip and spikes carried thereby for engaging the warp threads and tightening the fabric, said strip being mounted in a manner such that the path followed by the spikes may be oblique with reference to the axis of the loom while the spikes are arranged obliquely with reference to said path, a ring shaped member adapted to rotate coaxially round the axis of the shaft and in a direction opposed to the progress of the shuttle and a plurality of yielding scrapers carried by said ring shaped member adapted to scrape the tips of the warp threads.

9. In a circular shuttle operated weaving loom, the provision of an arrangement for tightening the weft threads including to the rear of the shuttle, an endless strip, pulleys controlling the movement of said strip and spikes carried thereby for engaging the warp threads and tightening thefabric, means for driving said strip, said strip being mounted in a manner such that the path followed by the spikes may be oblique with reference to the axis of the loom while the spikes are arranged obliquely with reference to said path.

10. In a circular shuttle operated weaving loom, the provision of an arrangement for tightening the weft threads including to the rear of the shuttle an endless strip, pulleys controlling the movement of said strips and spikes carried thereby for engaging the warp threads and tightening the fabric, means for driving said strip, said strip being mounted in a manner such that the path followed by the spikes may be oblique with reference to the axis of the loom while the spikes are arranged obliquely with reference to said path, a ring shaped member adapted to rotate coaxially round the axis of the shaft and in a direction opposed to the progress of the shuttle and a plurality of yielding scrapers carried by said ring shaped member and adapted to scrape the tips of the warp threads.

HENRI PELCE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,465,445 Lloyd Aug. 21, 1923 2,398,956 Pelee Apr. 23, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 678,133 France Dec. 23, 1929 

